Haida Gwaii 2011-2016

Color photos from the past 3 years, not part of any particular project.

Ancient Cedar Ghosts

The future survival and health of the Western Red Cedar is threatened by climate instability. Many scientists forecast a gradual extinction of cedar trees on Canada’s West Coast due to longer dry spells and unreliably changing seasonal precipitation. More immediately threatening is the continued logging of old-growth forests, including ancient cedar trees like the giants depicted in these portraits. By cutting down old-growth forests (forests which, when alive, are one of the most effective means of trapping CO2), our government is removing powerful carbon sinks, that would otherwise be naturally, passively helping to stabilize our climate. The way a culture treats nature is often the same way it treats its women, and in this case, our western culture of colonial heteropatriarchy usually treats the natural environment, and women’s bodies the same way: choosing exploitation and entitlement, over autonomy and respect.